Overview

The document is the official publication of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) Protocols and Regulations, published in May 2004 by the ECOWAS Executive Secretariat in Abuja, Nigeria. It begins with extracts from the ECOWAS Revised Treaty, including the Preamble which lists the Heads of State and Government of member states (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo). The Preamble reaffirms the 1975 Treaty of Lagos, emphasizes the need for economic development and integration, self-reliance, and references the African Charter on Human and People's Rights and the 1991 Declaration of Political Principles. It also acknowledges the partial pooling of national sovereignties for regional integration. The core of the document consists of three protocols and three regulations: Protocol A/P1/1/03 defining the concept of originating products from ECOWAS member states; Protocol A/P2/1/03 on compensation procedures for loss of revenue from trade liberalization, with a Supplementary Protocol A/SP1/12/03 amending Article 6 thereof; Regulation C/REG.3/4/02 establishing procedures for approval of originating products to benefit under the ETLS, including an application form; Regulation C/REG.4/4/02 adopting a certificate of origin for ECOWAS products; and Regulation C/REG.5/4/02 on assessment of ex-factory price components and value-added. Key topics include rules of origin, compensation mechanisms, trade liberalization procedures, customs cooperation, and regional economic integration. Entities mentioned include ECOWAS member states, the ECOWAS Executive Secretariat, and specific protocols and regulations. The language is English.

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